To avoid overcrowding in prisons, 20 new high-tech jails coming up in UP

Prayagraj, 20 March : The state government has committed to build 20 new high-tech jails in 20 districts during the next two to five years. Eleven of these 20 jails would be built in districts that do not already have a jail. Furthermore, building of one central jail and other prisons in nine districts has already begun, and the number of barracks in some of the jails is being raised to boost prisoner capacity and prevent overcrowding. The state government’s decision to improve prison conditions in Uttar Pradesh follows the recent instance of MLA Abbas Ansari, who was unlawfully permitted to have secret meetings with his wife Nikhat Bano and conduct business inside the Chitrakoot jail.

In another example, it was found that mafioso Atiq Ahmad’s brother Ashraf was given privileged access to speak with his aides. The meetings were not even recorded in the Bareilly jail’s registry. Taking these instances seriously, chief minister Yogi Adityanath has given the prison department the go-ahead to build new jails and modernise current ones, the state government spokesperson said in a press release. It goes on to say that these jails will be high-tech. The work of expanding barracks at various jails is also continuing in order to minimise prisoner overpopulation.

The discussion between prison authorities and the CM emphasised the necessity for new jails in light of the amenities given by the jail manual, as well as the preservation of inmates’ human rights. According to top prison administration and rehabilitation services officials, the state’s seven central prisons hold 15,201 inmates versus a total capacity of 13,669 convicts. Similarly, 95,597 prisoners are housed in 62 district jails with a total capacity of 49,107. Similarly, 664 inmates are housed in two sub-jails with a total capacity of 306 prisoners. The women’s central jail, which has a capacity of 120 inmates, is currently housing 148.

Significantly, building of jails has begun in 11 districts, including Amethi and Mahoba, with prisons with a capacity of 990 inmates each. In addition, 1,000-inmate prisons would be built in Kushinagar, Chandauli, Auraiya, Hapur, Sambhal, Amroha, and Bhadohi, as well as 1,026-inmate jails in Hathras and 2,000-inmate jails in Shamli.

The construction of a new Central Jail with a capacity of 2,000 inmates in Lalitpur has been accelerated. Meanwhile, building of a second district jail with a capacity of 1,000 inmates has begun in Lalitpur. Additionally, funds have been approved for the repair and renovation of Bareilly’s old jail, which will house 2,579 inmates.

Prisons with capacities of 3,000 in Moradabad and Muzaffarnagar, 2,000 in Shahjahanpur, Badaun, and Varanasi, 1,000 in Jaunpur and Rampur, and 5,000 in Kanpur city are also being built. Concurrently, the district jail in Shravasti, with a capacity of 502 prisoners, and the Prayagraj district jail, with a capacity of 2,688 prisoners, will be completed by the end of March.

In addition, one barrack with a capacity of 30 prisoners is being built in the Gorakhpur district jail, seven barracks with a capacity of 30 prisoners in the Varanasi central jail, and four barracks with a capacity of 30 prisoners in the Mathura district jail. More than 35,000 convicts can be transferred there with the building of new prisons, renovation of current jails, and expansion of barracks in jails.